Ayinger Jahrhundert-Bier
Rating: 9 out of 10
This is my second tasting of the Jahrhundert Bier. Ayinger makes some exceptional beer - this one is subtitled (and roughly translated to) a "Century Celebration Bavarian Lager." The bottle is 1 pint, 1 ounce, as are most Ayinger bottles. I found it at World Market and wanted to try it a second time because my initial thoughts of it were so high I thought it may be too good to be true. Could it withstand a second scrutiny? Indeed, it does.
The pour is good - it's golden and clear with a nice head. The head looks like whip cream and makes you want to dive in. An unassuming, but familiar smell, you don't know what to expect as it looks like any other beer. The first taste makes me tilt my head and close my eyes. "Did I just taste what I thought I tasted?" Second taste confirms my initial thoughts - this beer tastes like Germany. And that smell? It smells like a beer tent at the Wiesn. Dad and I were in Germany for Oktoberfest in 2006 and this reminds me of that. It reminds me of being in a beer tent with a huge beer, eagerly gulping it down and eating a huge beer pretzel, waiting for our beer wench to take our order for a half roasted hendel. It's smooth, so very smooth. Not much aftertaste - just a clean finish. It has a touch of sweetness to that makes me almost place it somewhere between a nice Munich lager beer and a Radler (our dessert beer in Munich - half beer/half lemonade). You want to gulp it down as if you've got a full liter stein, but you open your eyes and realize you've just got a frosty pint glass. Yes - this beer makes me feel like I'm in a beer tent in Munich and it makes me want it that much more.
In researching online I noticed it has won some awards - Gold Medal and World Champion - 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 World Beer Championships. A must try beer.
By John on
February 3, 2007 @ 8 PM with 0 Comments
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